The boatman

Life is a continuum of correction and flow:

The boatman

strikes his pole

into the muddy bottom 

 

To push his boat

away from the sloping shore

of the river bank

As he tries to catch

the river's current and rhythm

he'll try the flow

In different places

until he settles on one

that takes the boat

To where he wants.

But never rest boatman

keep the pole in readiness

The river has a life

and wasn't made just

for calm and careless drifting

But will make you work

To stay in the flow

you need to go

downstream.